We grieve as one nation, Don tells families
A somber President Trump on Thursday called the massacre at a Florida high school that left 17 dead an act of evil, and offered comfort and condolences to the victims’ families.
“Yesterday a school filled with innocent children and caring teachers became the scene of terrible violence, hatred and evil,” Trump said from the White House in his first public comments on the country’s latest school shooting.
“Our entire nation, with one heavy heart, is praying for the victims and their families. To every parent, teacher and child who is hurting so badly, we are here for you — whatever you need, whatevertever we can do to ease your pain. We are alll joined together as one American family, and your suffering uffering is our burdenen also,” the presidentnt said.
“No child,ild, no teacher, shouldould ever be in dangerger in an American school. No o parent should ever have to fear for their sons and daughters when they kiss them goodbye in the morning,” he continued, acknowledginging the shock anand pain experienced by tthe Browardward County comcommunity. He praised heroic teachers and ffirst responderssponders — butbu made no mention of calls for tighter gun concontrol that regularly follow school and mass shshootings, focusing insteadin on mentamental illness. “We are ccommit- ted to working with state and local leaders to help secure our schools and tackle the difficult issue of mental health. Later this month, I will be meeting with the nation’s governors and attorneys general where making our schools and our children safer will be our top priority,” the president said.
He also ordered American flags to be flown at half-staff.
Earlier, he posted a tweet that suggested the blame lies with mental illness, not the ready availability of military-style semiautomatic assault rifles, such as the weapon that troubled